The acai berry is found in a tall Amazon palm tree grown in Central and South American rain forests. Acai is a natural energy fruit. Antioxidants, amino acids, and essential fatty acids are packed in the grape-sized fruit. The Acai berry tastes like a berry and chocolate mixture and even protects the body from free radicals.

The acai berry is a round, dark purple or green fruit with a 1″ diameter. They resemble a grape, but have less pulp and more seed.

Acai berries grow on acai palms, which produce 500-900 panicles of this energizing fruit twice a year. Acai palms are 15-30 meters with pinnate leaves stretching up to 3 meters. The palms grow mainly out of swamps and floodplains.

Acai berries are drupes, which means they have a single seed surrounded by a fleshy part and are protected by a shell or skin. Acai’s seed makes up 90% of the fruit. Peaches and coconuts are other examples of drupes.

Acai offers a number of health benefits since it is packed with helpful ingredients, including:

Antioxidants

Healthy fats

Amino acids

Vitamins and minerals

Antioxidants

Acai contains anthocyanins and flavonoids, which have powerful antioxidant properties. Anthocyans are what give the red, purple, and blue colors to fruits. Acai is one of the fruits highest in anthocyans, along with blueberries, red grapes, and red wine.

Antioxidants can battle harmful free radicals which can cause diseases and early aging. Free radicals are harmful because they line the arteries and clog cells. Acai is a more powerful antioxidant source than cranberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries.

Healthy Fats

Much of the Acai pulp is made up of 3 healthy fats; omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9. These healthy fats make up 74% of the fleshy fruit.

The amino acids in Acai help to increase metabolism. 7% of the Acai pulp is made up of amino acids. The amino acids are the building block of protein which repairs muscles, organs, nails, hair, skin, ligaments, and glands.

Vitamins and Minerals

Acai is packed with necessary vitamins and minerals. Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C and E are all found in Acai along with potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and copper.